Interview with Mia Segaert | A Belgium Photographer Fascinated with Nature & Fine Arts

I started my photography journey in 2016 with Photo Art at the Academy of Visual Arts in Brasschaat (Belgium) combined with my own practice. However, due to health issues and treatments required, I had to stop the training mid 2019. As I am very motivated to become better, I started back with several modules in photography in Ostend at CVO Scale, which was part of an official training program as a photographer in 2023.

When I made my first communion at six years old, two of my aunts gave me a small, quite adorable analog camera. I was thrilled with this present and eagerly used it to take pictures of the family event organized at our home. However, capturing those moments wasn't as easy as I had imagined.

Today, I shoot with a high-resolution - full-frame camera from Canon (EOS R system). It is a system camera that I have been using since 2018 and with different attachment lenses, tele, wide angle, and macro according to the situation. When I am on a trip, I have it with me at all times. I traded my handbag for it wherever I go.

I often get the comments: so fresh, so new, so fantastic, and beautiful. Your passion is reflected in your images. You express the deepest.

As a child, I had the need for artistic, aesthetic creativity and wanted to visualize it. I had the need to create something beautiful, with great attention to shapes, colors, and detail. Meeting the sea, was love at first sight. Immediately I felt a great attraction. Soon I wanted to explore the wide world, learn languages, and be connected to the world in intercultural relationships. Through my first career, I became further inspired by contemporary architecture. And it is these things that I bring into my photographic work.

Pure, surprising, and magnificent.

Receiving this gold medal for my collection "Ethereal Bodies" is of course a tremendous honor. It motivates me so much to continue on this momentum.

Participating in the MUSE Photography Awards appealed to me greatly, as I had just created an intuitive collection that aligned with the goals of the MUSE Photography Awards. I did not hesitate for a moment. The images were made only a few weeks ago, and I received a spontaneous email from the award to participate and I just did it.

As mentioned earlier, I embarked on my second career in art photography at the beginning of 2023. Since then, I have participated in several international photography competitions and have already received multiple awards. The year 2024 looks very promising, as I have won a gold award from the MUSE Photography Awards and four individual awards from the Federation of European Photographers (FEP). People are beginning to take notice. For me, the most important thing is to gain recognition from professional organizations, affirming that I am doing a good job.

My work is not based on any specific artist or photographer. Subconsciously, I incorporate elements of contemporary architecture and sculpture into my photography. I greatly admire Frank Gehry, Pablo Atchugarry, and Olafur Eliasson for their architectural and sculptural works. Additionally, I draw inspiration from photographers like Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, and Hiroshi Sugimoto. Their influence shapes my approach to capturing and creating visual art.

Before I began my artistic career, I invited a friend who is an entrepreneur. She gave me valuable advice, saying, "Anything that has a story sells," and encouraged me to "Keep trying." Recently, she wrote to me for my first exposition: "The start of a long nice Fine Art Story. Well done!"

I always think long-term. The images you create should be the expression of your soul.

If you can be who you are, you can become who you want to be - unknown.

I do not have to put so much effort into that. As I can be visually creative, I get a lot of energy. I am a dreamer and have a lot of imagination, but it has to be an intuition.

Thank you for this recognition and appreciation of my artistic photographic work.